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A purse bid for the WBO middleweight championship contest between champion Demetrius “BooBoo” Andrade and mandatory challenger Zhanibek “Kazakh Style” Alimkhanuly is scheduled to be held Friday at WBO Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, Adrdade reportedly now plans to vacate the WBO belt and move up to the super middleweight division. According to SI, Andrade is being lined up for an eliminator with Zach Parker with the winner to become WBO mandatory for undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez.

Mayor William D. Franklin of Warren, Ohio, proclaimed Wednesday, January 26, as “Don King Day” at the final press conference for Don King’s PPV event on Saturday at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. In the featured bouts, WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu will defend his world title against #1 Thabiso Mchunu in the main event while WBA heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan will square off against WBA #13-ranked Jonathan Guidry.

Ilunga Makabu: “I hope everybody knows who I am. I’m very thankful for this opportunity to be here today in front of you guys. I’m very thankful to Don King Productions for making this event happen because plenty of events have been disturbed by COVID. I’m very happy to be here and to have the opportunity to defend our title on January 29. I don’t have much to say. I just want to say good luck to my opponent Thabiso Mchunu because this is the second time I’m fighting him now. Thanks to all who come to support us. Thanks to my team. Enjoy the fight on the 29th.”

Thabiso Mchunu: “The hard work has been done. Come fight night, I am ready to go. All the best to everyone who is fighting on Saturday night.”

Trevor Bryan: “I am here to stay, to keep proving myself. I have a strong opponent in front of me in Jonathan Guidry. I appreciate him being out here. This is a big opportunity for him as well. We are going to show it out for you in Ohio and showcase all this talent for the whole world to see. It’s been a long road, a lot of hearsay. I am here to stay. It won’t be long now. I am the journey.”

Jonathan Guidry: “All the hard work is done. I am just glad we got the opportunity. We are just thankful to be out here to shock the world.” Continue reading “Makabu-Mchunu/Bryan-Guidry Final Press Conference”

The World Boxing Council has received once again requests from the teams of Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte, to extend the period of free negotiations. The WBC has granted this final extension and if there is no agreement, a purse bid will be held this coming Friday, January 28.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Japan’s 122-pound champ, Gakuya Furuhashi (28-8-2, 16 KOs), 122, barely kept his national belt as he was held to a majority draw (95-95 twice, 96-94 against him) with former titlist Yusaku Kuga (20-5-2, 13 KOs), 122, over ten hard-fought rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

It was a grudge fight since Furuhashi, 34, a game brawler, withstood the then champ Kuga’s assault and finally dethroned him via ninth-round come-from-behind stoppage just a year ago. The muscular ex-champ Kuga, 31, had an upper hand with more accurate attacks in the first half, leading on the open scoring system—49-46, 48-47 twice. Furuhashi, however, turned loose to accelerate his retaliation in the second half to overcome his early deficits on points. Kuga, a prefight favorite, almost regained the belt, but failed to recollect it from the pugnacious champ. Continue reading “Furuhashi barely keeps Japanese 122lb belt”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney’s promoter Eddie Hearn is confident he can work out a deal for Haney to take on undisputed WBA, WBO, IBF, WBC franchise lightweight champion George Kambosos in Australia this year.

“It’s not announced, there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes,” Hearn told The DAZN show. “It’s not even an offer but I think Kambosos wants to fight, Haney wants to fight. It’s the natural fight. It’s not close to being signed. There’s a deal that’s been discussed that could get this made. From our side, we’ve got a model we think works. Continue reading “Kambosos-Haney talks continue”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has launched another salvo of insults at heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte, and Oleksandr Usyk.

“I’m just gonna keep videoing until one of these cowards decides to fight,” said Fury on social media. “You’re all cowards! Shithouse bums! I don’t care who I fight. AJ, Usyk, Dillian Whyte or any of them. Fight me! I’m the best man that’s ever lived. Yas are all coward bum-dossers. I’ll annihilate the lot of yas and destroy yas, submit yas, tap you bitches out. Come and fight!

“I’ve been asked this question over and over again. I do not know the answers to it. I’m ready to fight this weekend. I’ve been training for eight weeks. How long does a man need to train? Joshua is a coward. Usyk is a pussy. Whyte don’t want to fight. So you can prove me wrong and get to f**king fighting you pair of cowards. You’re all cowards. You’re all bum-dossers! Have a fight or do one you pack of wet lettuces!”

WBC/WBA/IBF female middleweight world champion Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields held a media workout at Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas on Tuesday as she showed off her skills before her February 5 PPV defense against #1 ranked challenger Ema Kozin taking place February 5 live on pay-per-view at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.

On adding co-trainer Gerald Tucker to her team, joining longtime coach John David Jackson:

“I just wanted some new eyes in my camp. I’ve always wanted two different coaches with two different styles in my corner. He fits into my team perfectly. Continue reading “Claressa Shields Media Workout”

The long-simmering rivalry between British rivals Amir Khan (34-5, 21 KOs) and Kell Brook (39-3, 27 KOs) will finally come to a head in a 149-pound catchweight battle on February 19, at AO Arena in Manchester, England. Roughly 20,000 fans will be in attendance for this British super fight for the ages, which sold out in 10 minutes when tickets went on sale in December.

Promoted by BOXXER, Khan vs. Brook and select undercard fights will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+. Continue reading “ESPN+ picks up Khan-Brook”

Gallo Estrada out due to COVID, JC Martinez steps in

WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez will face Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez at the Pechanga Arena San Diego in San Diego, California on Saturday March 5, live worldwide on DAZN.

Martinez (18-1 14 KOs) moves up to 115lbs and does so against a legend of the weight in Chocolatito (50-3 41 KOs), with the Mexican stepping in to replace Juan Francisco Estrada, who has been forced out of his trilogy clash with Chocolatito with COVID. Continue reading “New opponent for Chocolatito”

Probellum returns to Dubai on March 18 and 19 at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium for two consecutive nights featuring current and former world champions, Olympic medalists and hot prospects.

The main and co-main event for night one will be announced this week. The second night will feature IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (17-0, 4 KOs) defending his title against Muhammad Waseem (12-1, 8 KOs) plus former super lightweight world champion Regis Prograis (26-1, 22 KOs) against Tyrone McKenna (22-2-1, 6 KOs).

By Joe Koizumi

Newly crowned WBC 108-pound champion Masamichi Yabuki (13-3, 12 KOs), 29, will face former titlist Kenshiro Teraji (18-1, 10 KOs), 30, in his initial defense in Kyoto, Japan, on March 19. Yabuki dethroned Teraji by an upset tenth-round TKO victory last September, and it will be his direct rematch with the ex-champ. Teraji (the outboxer) party claimed that Yabuki (the aggressive puncher) committed an intentional headbutt in round nine, which eventually resulted in an unexpected forfeiture of the previously undefeated Teraji. Did Sugar Ray Robinson claim Carmen Basilio’s intentional butt after their first encounter in 1957? As the WBC ordered, their rematch may solve all disputes between the still hostile parties. Time will tell.

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is tired of waiting for an opponent. Here is what “The Gypsy King” had to say today:

“Another gym session done. Tuesday morning smash. ‘Tick, tick, effing tick, tock’ is the subject of today. Is Dillian Whyte gonna fight me? Is Anthony Joshua gonna step aside? Let me know because I am sick of looking at these bums! Take a listen to their excuses. Tick, tick, tock. The time has run out the bottle. You’re all getting a good hiding, cowards.”

WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie (17-0, 14 KOs) will defend his world title against former world title challenger Michal Cieslak (21-1, 15 KOs) at The O2 in London on Sunday, February 27, shown live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

“Thank you to Cieslak for accepting the fight,” said Okolie. “I’m sure he is coming to get revenge for Glowacki! He is a good, strong campaigner who should be one of my toughest tests to date.”

On the undercard, featherweight  Karim Guerfi (30-5, 9 KOs) makes the first defense of his EBU European title against ‘The Thrill’ Jordan Gill (26-1-1, 7 KOs).

More additions to be confirmed this week.

Nicaragua has produced great fighters and has a very interesting boxing history. Boxers like Alexis Argüello, Rosendo Álvarez, Eddy Gazo or Ricardo Mayorga are always mentioned when talking about boxing in the Central American country, but there is a current name that also enters the conversation and that is Román “Chocolatito” González.

“Chocolatito” has the opportunity to set another record for his country and it could happen if he gets a win in his next fight against Juan Francisco Estrada. He would become the oldest Nicaraguan fighter to be world champion as he will be 34 years and nine months old by the time of the fight (March 5). Continue reading ““Chocolatito” goes for another boxing record”

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has denied reports of a $20 million USD step-side deal that would allow WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to take a unification fight with WBC champ Tyson Fury.

In a video on social media, Joshua stated “You know what’s bad about all these interviews I see? I see certain interviews that quote what I’ve said, and I think to myself ‘I ain’t done no interviews? Where did this person get this information from?’

“I’m hearing people saying, ‘AJ accepts £15 million to step aside.’ I ain’t signed no contract, I ain’t seen no contract. So as it stands, stop listening to the bullshit until it comes from me.

“I’m the man in control of my destiny, I’m the man who handles my business. I’m a smart individual and I make calculated decisions every step of the way. Don’t listen to the bullshit from other sources, if I tell you something then you know it’s from me.”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán / President of the WBC

This Saturday, January 29th, Don King returns to the boxing promotion scene, staging a major card in his home state of Ohio.

The main event stars WBC cruiserweight champion, Ilunga Makabu, from the Congo, in a mandatory title defense against the official challenger Thibiso Mchunu of South Africa. The winner of this fight is contemplated as Saul Canelo Álvarez’s next opponent, as requested by his manager, Eddy Reynoso, during The WBC annual convention.

This column is dedicated to this great promoter. Don King is a living legend and quite a personality; he is even more famous and popular than most boxers today. Continue reading “Don King the legendary promoter”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) gave a deadline of 90 days, until next April 24, to carry out the mandatory bout between WBA super bantamweight super champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev and his mandatory challenger Ronny Rios. Matchroom Boxing won the right to promote the fight on May 24, 2021. However, the fight had to be suspended due to Covid-19 and Akhmadaliev received special permission to defend against Jose Velazquez last November.

Once the voluntary defense was completed, the Championships Committee sent the communication form to the company in charge of organizing the fight with the established deadline to promote the confrontation. Akhmadaliev is the 122lb world champion and Rios occupies the first position in the WBA rankings.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the lightweight world title fight between champion Gervonta Davis and mandatory challenger Rolando “Rolly” Romero. The formal communication was sent to both teams of both fighters, who will have 30 days, which expires next February 24, to reach an agreement.

Pursuant to WBA rules, the president and the Committee have the right to define a mandatory period at their discretion. In Davis’ case, it was conditioned to a nine (9) month mandatory defense period. As this period has expired, he must face Romero.

The fight had been previously ordered but external issues prevented it from taking place at that time. The Davis-Romero showdown marks another step in the WBA’s title reduction plan.

Big day on Saturday with two major telecasts to end January 2022.

Hall of Fame promoter Don King presents a $49.99 pay-per-view world title double doubleheader in Warren, Ohio, featuring WBA heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan (21-0, 15 KOs) defending against #13 rated Jonathan Guidry (17-0-2, 10 KOs) and WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Junior Makabu (28-2 with 25 KOs) defending against Thabiso Mchunu (23-5, 13 KOs).

The DKP show will go head-to-head with an ESPN telecast promoted by none other than King’s former arch-rival Bob Arum/Top Rank. The Top Rank show from Tulsa, Oklahoma has a pair of ten round junior lightweight bouts in the spotlight as Robson Conceicao (16-1, 8 KOs) returns against Xavier Martinez (17-0, 11 KOs, and Rene Tellez Giron (16-1, 10 KOs) meets Luis Melendez (17-1, 13 KOs.

As always, there may be some streams popping up here and there. For example, Thursday’s card in Spain featuring former world champion Sergio Martinez (54-3-2, 30 KOs) vs. Macaulay McGowan (14-2-1, 3 KOs) will likely surface somewhere.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst Andre Ward says undisputed WBA, IBF, WBO and WBC franchise lightweight champion George Kambosos he’s got the toughness, power, and grit, to win proposed fights against Vasiliy Lomanchenko and Devin Haney.

“You can’t lose with either one of those fights,” Ward told Max Kellerman. “Kambosos is flexing his muscles in this 135-pound division like he just beat Floyd Mayweather, but he will soon understand that if he is successful in his next fight, regardless of who it’s against, there’s a thing called mandatories. Continue reading “Ward: Kambosos has toughness, power, and grit”

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos: Bob Ryder

Salita Promotions put on a successful night of boxing Saturday night. The card, matched by Lina Kurylyuk and Steve Clemente, featured up-and-coming local boxers, some long-awaited pro debuts and a main event that showcased fighters from Georgia and California.

Middleweight Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (28-4-1, 15 KOs) headlined the 10-Round main event. Across the ring from him was a well-matched Antonio Todd (13-5, 7 KOs). The fight, which started slowly, had both fighters feeling each other out. The early rounds favored Centeno, as he was able to get in and then out of danger quickly after he threw punches. Centeno landed some nice combinations early in the 2nd Round. In the 3rd Round, Todd was able to land a beautiful right cross that connected, snapping Centeno’s head back. A very even 4th, led to the fight picking up the pace. Todd, all of a sudden, was touching Centeno’s chin often, and with power. The last three rounds, Todd was chasing Centeno and tagging him with his gloves. A fight, which started pretty slowly, ended at a good, fast pace. Ring announcer Pete Trevino had the honor of delivering the judge’s scores. The scores read (97-93-Todd, 95-95-Draw, 96-94-Todd) giving Todd the majority decision win. Continue reading “Todd surprises Centeno in Detroit”

With the end of the six year, ten month reign of former WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. on Saturday night, the longest currently reigning world champion in boxing is now WBA minimumweight Thammanoon Niyimtrong (also known as Knockout CP Freshmart), who has held his title for five years, seven months.

Other longest-reigning champions (at one weight) are:

Jerwin Ancajas – five years, four months
Leo Santa Cruz – five years
Errol Spence – four years, eight months
Dmitry Bivol – four years, two months
Artur Beterbiev – four years, two months

The next Showtime Championship Boxing telecast will be on February 26 from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas when WBA super featherweight champion Roger Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20 KOs) defends against unbeaten former interim champion Chris Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs).

The co-feature will be super lightweight Gary Antuanne Russell (14-0, 14 KOs) against former world champion Viktor Postol (31-3, 12 KOs).

In the other world title affair, IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) defends against Fernando Martinez (13-0, 8 KOs).

“This is my dream come true,” said newly crowned WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo. “Ever since I was a kid, this was my dream. I’m so proud that I’m a champion now. Thank you so much to the Filipino fans for the support.”

Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) ended the reign of boxing’s longest male world champion Gary Russell Jr. (31-2, 18 KOs), largely benefiting from an injury to Russell’s right shoulder that became discernable in round four. “I knew that he was hurt,” said Magsayo. “I hit him with a good shot. That’s why he got hurt. That was a big advantage for me. He was only using one hand. This was my opportunity to follow through. My coach was telling me to use good combinations and follow through. He said ‘this is your chance to become a champion,’ and now I am a champion.” Continue reading “Magsayo: I’m the champion now”

“I believe I have a torn tendon in my right shoulder,” former WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. said in the ring after losing his world title to Mark Magsayo. “I haven’t competed in almost two years. This is what true champions do. I wanted to step into the ring and display my superiority regardless of the injury and whatnot. We did that and I gave him a boxing lesson. I gave him a boxing lesson the whole way through. I landed clean whenever I wanted to. I couldn’t use my right arm, but I was still able to throw effective shots and touch him at will.

“I felt like I still won the fight to be honest with you. I fought with one arm. He had his hands full with a fighter with one arm and the whole fight I gave him a boxing lesson!” Continue reading “Russell: I felt like I won the fight”